Executor Search

[Kenneal67]

Cant think where else to post this. How would I locate the executors of an estate / death in England? I am fairly sure the person would have been intestate and died in a mental hospital in 1980. I have been in touch with the hospital who haven't been too helpful.

[Tickettyboo]

Hospitals will have restrictions on releasing info. Even if the records have been deposited at an archives the usual rule of thumb is that info less than 100 years old is not released.

The starting point would be to check on https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills to see if there was anything on the probate calendar for the deceased's estate.
If the entry mentions probate then there was a will and if it just says administration then no will but a grant of admin was issued.

If you find an entry then a copy of the will/grant of admin can be ordered at a cost of £1.50.

That should give you the names and addresses (at that time) of the executors.
Do bear in mind that if goes back to 1980, there is a high chance the addresses may be out of date in the ensuing 40 years (we are on our 10th address since then!) and/or the executors may have died in the meantime.

Rootschat has a policy of not allowing discussion /help with tracing living people, so we wouldn't be able to help with specifics of trying to find and contact any executors.

Boo

[Kenneal67]

Thanks Boo,

the probate search is a blank.

I have spoken with the hospital and they said if i cant find the executors then no chance of anything other than basic info under the 100 year rule

Looks like that's the end of it unfortunately.

[PrawnCocktail]

If there's been no grant of probate (which may not have been in 1980!), you could try the Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia

[Kenneal67]

If there's been no grant of probate (which may not have been in 1980!), you could try the Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia

Never thought of that but the guy was buried in the same grave as his wife who died 8 years prior, not sure if that has any relevance.

[AntonyMMM]

Administration of the estate (or probate if there was a will) would only be necessary if the person had assets to pass on that required it. They may have had little, if anything, to leave.

[Kenneal67]

Administration of the estate (or probate if there was a will) would only be necessary if the person had assets to pass on that required it. They may have had little, if anything, to leave.

After 35 ish years in a mental hospital probably very little.

[Girl Guide]

Did the couple have any children?  Have you considered getting the death certificate?  However the death certificate may only show the informant as a staff member of the mental hospital.

Did you try to find any death notice in a relevant paper?

[Tickettyboo]

If you post the details I am happy to look to see if there is anything in the old newspapers

Boo